HOPEDALE – Two people were arrested and a third is at large after leading police on a chase from Hopedale into Milford, first in cars and then through the Charles River.

Hopedale Police Officer Robert Doyon stopped a car for allegedly driving erratically around 12:47 a.m. Thursday on South Main Street in Hopedale. When Doyon approached the car, it sped off, according to court records.

Police followed, calling in the assistance of Milford officers, as the car sped to upwards of 60 mph on Main Street. Police followed the car to Depot Street where they found the car with its front and back door open on the side of the road near Milford’s highway garage, which is located near an embankment that leads down to a brook that flows into the Charles River.

According to police, officers could hear the suspects moving through the water, described as a brook about 1 or 2 feet deep, and began a pursuit.

"I was able to yell at the suspects that they were surrounded and the two agreed to stop," Doyon said.

At first, the pair denied a third person was in the car, but Doyon said he saw a third suspect in the driver’s seat during the initial stop, court records say.

Police were able to identify the driver, Daniel Cronin, 20, of 41 Caroll St., Milford, through a cell phone left in the car, according to court records.

Officers from several area towns, including Bellingham, Holliston, Hopedale, Hopkinton, Medway, Mendon and Upton, sent officers to help set up a perimeter to search for the third suspect. A state police K-9 unit was also called in.

"The fire department used a thermal imager and we could see that the third suspect was there, but we didn’t have enough people to set up a perimeter," said Milford Deputy Chief James Heron.

The K-9 unit eventually found where the suspect jumped the fence and the search was called off around 3:30 a.m.

Elaine Cronin and Simpkins were charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, trespassing and obstruction of justice. Both were released following their arraignment in Milford District Court on Thursday morning. Authorities say the two had extensive records.

There is an apprehension warrant out for Daniel Cronin’s arrest. He faces charges of negligent operation of a motor vehicle, operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license, using a motor vehicle without authority, failing to stop for police, resisting arrest, trespassing, disorderly conduct, failing to signal, speeding and a marked lanes violation, police said.

Daniel Cronin also has four outstanding warrants, according to police. One warrant is from a 2012 case out of Milford District Court when he was charged with operating under the influence of alcohol and giving a false name to police. He also has a warrant out charging a probation violation and failing to appear in court, records show.